Description
Master Pieces, sub-titled Classic Songs Made New, is a multi-artist project released on Benson Music Group in 1992. Most of the traks were produced by Ed Nalle of Glad.
Benson Music Group has been keeping Christian music contemporary since 1902. These 10 selections are classics from our 35,000 song catalog, newly rendered in the unique styles of today’s finest artists. (Note printed on the back of the CD)
A college instructor of mine defined “masterpiece” as that work of art or craft which an apprentice creates to prove he or she is no longer a “student,” but a “master.” It’s a showcase to prove the artist has nothing more to prove.
Benson’s new ‘Master Pieces’, featuring “classic songs made new,” is also a showcase. The songs chosen for this project show us Benson’s extensive history in gospel music, from older hymns through newer staples of contemporary Christian music. The artists chosen for this project are all solid, reliable Christian artists, from veterans to fresh newcomers. Consequently, it’s quite a showcase.
The collection covers enough territory that some may consider it a bit eclectic. On the more traditional end we find 4HIM’s ’90s-styled quartet ripping it up with «Turn Your Radio On» and Glad doing that a cappella thing with the Dallas Holm and Praise classic «Rise Again». Moving into adult contemporary we find Matthew Ward giving a sensitive and faithful interpretation to Twila Paris’ perennial «The Warrior is a Child» and Commissioned giving a very smooth and silky rendition to «We Shall Behold Him». The pop crowd will no doubt find some surprises here, with Larnelle Harris‘ too-funky «Just a Little Walk With Jesus» (that’s good), the Al Denson/Angelo & Veronica collaboration with the charged «I Go to the Rock», and DeGarmo & Key’s recasting of Don Francisco’s great «He’s Alive» as a sort of digital rock opera (the finale will be worth the cost of the whole album to some fans). And rounding out the project nicely are the country-flavored «I Have Decided» from Dallas Holm and Michele Wagner, the chamber orchestra flavored «He Looked Beyond My Fault» from Heirloom, and the smooth R&B flavored «Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus» from Billy and Sarah Gaines.
Of course, everyone who listens to this collection will have different favorites. The important thing is that strong performances have been turned in all around, and anyone who enjoys these artists on their own turf will want to check out this collection. And, while Benson has a long enough history that any “apprenticeship” would have ended eons ego, ‘Master Pieces’ certainly shows that Benson has quite a bit to be proud of. [Chris Well, CCM, January 1993]
It seems a growing trend in CCM to release compilations of well known artists doing versions of other people’s songs. We have had ‘No Compromise‘ (Keith Green’s music) and ‘Our Hymns‘. Now ‘Master Pieces’ offers classic songs out of Benson’s large back catalogue built up over the last 90 years. Actually, most of the songs here stem from the last 20 years of US Christian radio, songs like Don Francisco’s «He’s Alive», given here the Phil Collins drum treatment by Degarmo & Key (sounding excellent, especially loud!), Dallas Holm’s «Rise Again», sung by slick harmonisers Glad, and «He Looked Beyond My Fault» performed here by country-gospel’s Heirloom. There is also a great dance version of «I Go To The Rock» by Al Denson and Angelo And Veronica. What I feel lets the project down is that several of the reworkings of these great songs fail to reach the heights of the original recordings. Matthew Ward’s version of «The Warrior Is A Child» for example doesn’t get close to Twila Paris’. Still, here is a serious attempt at bringing these songs that have blessed people up to date and for that it is worth checking out. [Stephen Luff, Cross Rhythms, August 1993]
CD tracklist:
01. 4HIM – Turn Your Radio On – 3:45
02. Larnelle Harris – Just a Little Talk With Jesus – 4:16
03. Matthew Ward – The Warrior is a Child – 4:07
04. Glad – Rise Again – 4:10
05. Commissioned – We Shall Behold Him – 5:10
06. Al Denson with Angelo & Veronica – I Go to the Rock – 4:39
07. DeGarmo & Key Band – He’s Alive – 5:20
08. Dallas Holm with Michelle Wagner – I Have Decided – 4:09
09. Billy & Sarah Gaines – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus – 4:12
10. Heirloom – He Looked Byond My Fault – 3:33
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Benson.
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